Weight Plate

ABSTRACT

A weight plate for physical fitness is disclosed including a plate body formed with a central through-bore for mounting on a bar to form a barbell set. The body is further formed with upper and lower half-donut shape shells and an annular core which fits tightly into both shells. The weight plate is not integrally cast therefore has high manufacturability and minimized manufacturing costs. Shells and core are integrated by sealing connection into a whole piece of plate having a smooth surface and an aesthetic appearance. The manufacture process is energy economizing and hardly causes pollution to the environment.

References Cited:

7,300,389 Nov. 27, 2007 Lien; Louis (Bellaire, TX) 7,198,591 Apr. 3, 2007 Lien; Louis (Bellaire, TX) 6,746,380 Jun. 8, 2004 Lien; Louis (Bellaire, TX) 6,736,765 May 18, 2004 Wallace; Richard S. (Thousand Oaks, CA), 6,319,176 Nov. 20, 2001 Landfair; Craig D. (Ventura, CA) 5,853,355 Dec. 29, 1998 Standish; Victor J. (Lancaster, PA)

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to physical fitness equipment, and more particularly a weight lifting plate manufactured by parts and integrated into a whole weight plate.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Barbell set is a typical choice of physical exercises especially for free-weight lifting. Generally, a barbell set includes an elongated rigid bar for grasping with one or both hands and having removable weight plates at each end. The weight plates are typically included as a collection of plates for selective installation on the bar according to the user's ability. Conventional weight plates are constructed of metallic material. One example disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,300,389, describes a weight plate wholly constructed by cast iron. The plate is disc-shaped, and formed with a central throughbore sized to slidably receive the end of the bar. Unfortunately, the wholly cast weight plate has rough surface and inaesthetic look therefore requires extra finishing steps to place the product in a saleable state such as de-burring operations to finish the edges of the throughbore and the plate periphery. Further steps often involved in manufacture of metallic plates include chroming the plate to achieve an appealing aesthetic finish, and coating the plate with a thermoplastic compound which increased the manufacturing cost. The manufacturing process causes pollution to the environment and considerable energy consumption. The disused weight plate has to be collected and meltdown before it can be used again.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Compared with conventional integrally formed weight plates which require many finishing steps, the present invention provides a novel method to manufacture a kind of weight plate with smooth surface and reduced manufacturing cost. To realize the advantages above, the invention comprises a weight plate including a plate body formed with a central throughbore and having a plate periphery. The body is further formed with upper and lower circular trough shells and an annular core fits tightly into both trough shells. The corresponding edges of the shells are sealing connected and formed a whole piece of weight plate.

The present invention is not integrally formed. The upper and lower shells are manufactured with metal sheet, which creates a smooth surface and aesthetic appearance. The number of finishing steps necessary to fabricate the plate including deburring rough edges, chroming or coating the plate with a thermoplastic compound may be minimized, and consequently the associated manufacturing costs.

The core element of the present invention can be constructed of ore powder with appropriate particle diameters and adhesives into shape. The core element is fits tightly into the upper and lower shells, the corresponding edges of which are sealing connected, and are integrated into a whole piece of weight plate. The manufacture process is energy-economizing and hardly causes pollution to the environment. Weights plate of varying weights and specifications are made possible by density calculation of the shell and core material and adjusting the diameter and width of the weight plates. Shells and cores of the disused weight plates can be recycled and directly put to use again.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the weight plate of the invention looking from the top of the weight plate.

FIG. 2 is an edge detail, cut-away view of the weight plate, looking from the side of the weight plate shown in FIG. 1 along line A-A.

FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the weight plate looking from the side.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the weight plate of FIG. 3 along lines B-B.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1-4, the weight plate of the present invention, generally designated 10 includes a substantially circular plate body 11 having hole(s) including a central through-bore 12. The plate body 11 is further formed with upper circular trough shell 20 and lower circular trough shell 21 (see FIG. 4) and an annular core 30 between the upper and lower shells that fit tightly into both trough shells. The corresponding edges (inner edge 1 and outer edge 2) of said trough shells are sealing connected with each other and enclose the core to form a whole piece of annular plate body 11.

The detailed technical solutions of the present invention include:

-   -   1. Said upper shell 20 and lower shell 21 of said weight plate         10 is formed of 0.05 mm to 10 mm metallic sheet (e.g. steel         sheet, aluminum alloy Sheet, and other metallic alloy sheets).         Metallic sheets were pressed into shape.     -   2. Said core 30 of the weight plate is formed of ore powder and         adhesives by compressing and solidifying into shape. Said ore         powder the particle diameter of which ranging from mesh 2 to         mesh 800 is iron ore powder, crap iron powder, or concentrated         ore powder.     -   3. Said corresponding edges of the upper and lower shells (inner         edge 1 and outer edge 2) are sealing connected by welding.

In one preferred embodiment of the present invention: the material density of the shells and cores is calculated to form a five-pound weight plate having a one-inch (25.4 mm) diameter central through-bore. The example adept 1.5 mm steel sheets were pressed into circular troughs to form the upper and lower shells of the weight plate as illustrated by FIG. 4. Diameter of the central opening is one-inch (25.4 mm). Each circular trough has an outboard diameter of 190 mm and a width of 23 mm. The core element of said weight plate is formed of mesh 400 to mesh 500 iron ore powder with a specific gravity of 65% iron ore powder is mixed with polyvinyl acetate emulsion adhesive and further compressed into a circle having an outboard diameter of 190 mm, an inboard diameter of 28 mm and a width of 23 mm. The core element fits tightly into the upper and lower trough shells. The corresponding edges of said trough shells are sealing connected by argon arc welding with each other and enclose the core to form a whole piece of annular weight plate body.

While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A weight plate for physical fitness including: a plate body formed with a central through-bore and having a plate periphery. The said body is further formed with upper and lower trough shells and an annular core, which fits tightly into both trough shells. The corresponding edges of said trough shells are sealing connected with each other and enclose the core to form a whole piece of annular plate.
 2. A weight plate according to claim 1 wherein: said upper and lower shells are formed of metallic sheet into shape.
 3. A weight plate according to claim 2 wherein: said metallic sheet is 0.05 mm to 10 mm thick.
 4. A weight plate according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein: the said shells are formed of pressed Steel Sheets into shape.
 5. A weight plate according to claim 2 or claim 3 wherein: the said shells are formed of pressed aluminum alloy Sheets into shape.
 6. A weight plate according to claim 1 wherein: said core is formed of ore powder and adhesives by compressing into shape.
 7. A weight plate for physical fitness according to claim 4 wherein: said ore powder is mesh 2 to mesh 800 iron ore powder.
 8. A weight plate for physical fitness according to claim 4 wherein: said ore powder is mesh 2 to mesh 800 metal ore powder.
 9. A weight plate for physical fitness according to claim 4 wherein: said ore powder is mesh 2 to mesh 800 scrap iron powder.
 10. A weight plate for physical fitness according to claim 4 wherein: said ore powder is mesh 2 to mesh 800 high-concentrated ore powder.
 11. A weight plate according to claim 1 to claim 9, said corresponding edges of upper and lower shells are sealing connected by welding.
 12. A weight plate according to claim 1 to claim 9, said corresponding edges of upper and lower shells are sealing connected by hot-press-coupling.
 13. A weight plate according to claim 1 to claim 9, said corresponding edges of upper and lower shells are sealing connected by glue-press-coupling. 